AU783106B2 - Valves - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

S

S

S.

S S.

S..

S t.

*5 S

S

*555**

S

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: GERALDINE MARY COCCIARDI PETER ANTHONY COCCIARDI SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 Robinson Street, DANDENONG VIC 3175

*SSS

S

S. S 5*

S.

S.

Invention Title:

VALVES

Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PP7398 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performning it known to me: 1999-I I-29,A:\245cocciardi. file.wpd, I -lao o..o TITLE: VALVES FIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to valves. In particular the invention relates to valves for controlling the level of water in cattle troughs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: There is a substantial need for valves for use in many situations but one particular situation that the applicant in this matter is considering is valves for use in controlling 1999-1 1-29,A:\240ccciardi.spccwpKd I -2supply of water to stock troughs so that stock may drink from those troughs. as they need but attempting to avoid some of the problems which include that stock can drink at a surprisingly large rate particularly when a large herd of stock is being watered and there is a problem with overflowing of troughs with consequence loss of water.

Conventional valves used in controlling water supply to stock troughs are of a substantially conical shape. Such valves generally comprise a. very restrictive inlet portion which are apt to accumulate grit and crystalline matter which causes blockages to flow of liquid. As a result water flow is prevented, and significant time and labour is required to clean and replace such valves.

:."The present invention attempts to at least in part deal with such problems.

oooo o.:o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention provides:a valve adapted to be used in controlling the flow of water which comprises ooo.oi 20 a major through passage and a closure for that through passage of size such as to be unlikely to be blocked in practical use.

The present invention further provides:a valve adapted to be used in controlling flow of water to stock troughs comprising:a body having a major passage in liquid communication with a valve chamber, a valve seating member for seating a closure member, said closure member being moveable within said chamber, a minor passage adapted to receive said closure member, a pivotable floating arm capable of adopting a variety of positions engageable with said closure member, wherein said valve closure member is moveable between a first sealed arrangement with 1999-11 -29A:\240cocciardi.spcc.wpd,2 -3said valve seating member when engaged by said pivotable floating arm and a second non-sealed position with respect to said valve seating member when disengaged by said pivotable arm such that liquid passing into the valve chamber is expelled through an outlet in said chamber in a lateral direction.

THE PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION: It is preferred that there is no restriction on flow through the valve itself.

It is preferred that there is no reduction in flow of the valve.

It is preferred that the valve includes a float component adapted to be pivotally mounted to the valve to control flow.

It is preferred that the float component may be positioned in one of a selected number of positions to control rate of flow or pressure or head under which flow occurs or is restricted.

It is preferred that the valve seating member has an upstanding lip upon which the closure member can engage so as to close the major passage.

o The valve seating member can also be shamphered.

It is preferred that the minor passage houses a push rod which is acted upon at one end by the pivotable arm.

Preferably the push rod is hollow at one end which is adapted to receive the closure member.

Preferably the closure member can be a washer.

Preferably the body can be a brass or steel body.

1999-11 -29.A:\240cocciardi.spec.wpd3 -4- It is preferred that the major passage has a diameter of about It has been found by the applicant that when the closure member is caused to move from a seated position, liquid flows controllably into the valve chamber and is expelled from the valve chamber in a lateral direction from an outlet in the chamber. In this way the expelled liquid does not disturb silt and scum accumulated at the bottom of the trough.

A specific example of a valve in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings non of which are to be considered to be limiting on the scope and breadth of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the valve; Figure 2 is a plan view of the valve showing certain aspects; Figure 3 is a partial cross-section of the valve showing various details; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the valve showing aspects of its use and utility; and, Figure 5 is a cross-section of the valve showing a flow path.

INTEGER LIST 1. Valve 2. Valve body 3. Major passage 4. Threaded section Valve chamber 6. Washer (closure member) 7. Seating member 1999.1 1.29,A:\240cocciardispcc.wp,4 8. Seating member/lip 9. Push rod Minor passage 11. Solid end of push rod 12. Lever arm 13. Rear cavity 14. Pivot/split pin Roller pin 16. Hollow end of push rod DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS: In the drawings there is shown a valve which comprises a number of components including:a body, a closure member, a valve seating member, S"a pivot point for an arm which can effect closure and which pivot point may be selected from two pivot points so as to vary the force involved in closure and opening.

The above described valve has been found useful in stock watering purposes and it is hoped by the applicant that it will find favour in various utilizations.

An embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the drawings.

In Figure 1 there is shown a valve of the present invention. The valve comprises a body having a major passage which enables communication with a mains water supply source.

The body has a threaded section which is adapted to be received and secured in a corresponding portion of a trough wall (now shown).

1999-11 -29,A:\240cocciardi.spc.wpdS The major passage opens into a valve chamber for receiving a washer The valve chamber contains a seating member which is shamphered or machined to form a lip or seat (not shown) upon which the washer can rest so as to form a seal against mains water supply held in the major passage The washer is held in engaged relation within a first hollow end (16) of push rod The push rod is in turn freely moveably located in a minor passage (10) so as to enable communication between a second solid end (11) of the push rod and flotation lever arm (12).

The flotation lever arm (12) is pivotally held in a rear cavity (13) of the body by a split pin (14) or roller pin The position of the pivot can be altered so as to control •the head of water which determines the rate of water flow.

Normally when water supply is low, a conventional valve will be opened so as to direct water flow downward thereby disturbing dirt and silt deposits which makes the water less palatable to stock.

The present valve is uncommonly large and is thereby less prone to blockage. A further ooo i 20 significant advantage offered by the present system is that when trough water levels are low, water supplied to the trough is directed laterally substantially on the surface of the water thereby eliminating silt and dirt disturbance at the bottom of the trough.

The lever arm (12) shown in Figure 1 is in an upright position, said lever arm being held in this position by means of an airtight float on its distal end (not shown) which is buoyed by a sufficiently high water level.

When the water level falls, the lever arm (12) buoyed by an airtight float, pivots so as to adopt an incrementally angular position (shown in broken lines) with respect to the body As the lever arm pivots downwards, mains water supply held in the major passage (3) urges washer from its seated position The washer in turn causes the push rod 1999-11 29A:U40cocciardi.spec.wpd,6 -7to be displaced within minor passage Water from major passage flows into valve chamber and is directed laterally in a fan-like manner from chamber through an outlet (not shown) onto the surface of external water. As a result there is little disturbance of water remaining in a trough and significantly diminished chance of blockage occurring.

As the trough fills with water the lever arm is acted upon by the airtight float buoyed by an increased water level.

0 1999-11 -29A:\240coccidi.spc.wpd,7

Claims (13)

1. A float valve for a water trough comprising a body with a major passage and a coaxial minor passage, a valve zone between the passages, a valve slidably mounted in the minor passage and movable axially in the valve zone between a closed position in which the valve seals the end of the major passage and an open position in which the valve allows liquid to flow out of the end of the major passage, a fulcrum on the body and a float arm pivoting on the fulcrum and abutting the valve in order to move the valve from open to closed positions in response to the buoyancy of a float when fitted to the float arm, wherein the valve zone communicates directly with the exterior in use and the flow path is devoid of restriction by way of reduction in cross-section of the major passage. 0 *0 S

2. A float valve as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the body has a head with a threaded connector for reception of a pipe coupling, a tail portion for mounting the float arm and an intermediate portion with a window which defines the valve zone and houses the minor passage. 0:

3. A float valve as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the periphery of the body in the valve zone is cut away to reduce resistance to the flow of liquid which in use flows out of the main S: passage past the valve. 0:

4. A float valve as claimed in Claim l,wherein the valve releases flow in directions other than downwardly into the trough.

A float valve as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the body has more than one fulcrum allowing greater and lesser closing force on the valve.

6. A float valve as claimed in Claims 1-3, wherein the body has a tailwith a slot therein which guides the movement of the float arm.

7. A float valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the major passage has an upstanding lip against which the valve closes. Fc2005-02-24,A:\524cocciardi.cais.wpd,8

8. A float valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the minor passage houses a push rod which is acted upon at one end by the float arm.

9. A float valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fulcrum is a bore in the body and a split pin which engages the bore and the float arm.

A float valve as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the body has two bores, one placed higher than the other in order to allow a choice of fulcrum position in relation to the push rod.

11. A float valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body has a float arm stop.

12. A float valve as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the major passage has a diameter of about

13. A valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 4 th day of August, 2005. SANDERCOCK COWIE S PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR GERALDINE MARY COCCIARDI Fc2005-08-04,Z\Specifications\coccrdiclaims.wpd,9