Float valve assembly for a water purification system

Abstract

A float-controlled filling valve assembly for regulating the flow of water entering a tank (16), comprising a valve assembly (28) with a housing defining a flow section connectable with an inlet pipe connection (30) to a water source and an outlet pipe connection (32) to a water purification unit, in which a primary valve is arranged that can be moved in both directions between an open and a closed valve position that closes the flow cross-section and thus the water flow towards the water purification unit, the filling valve assembly further comprising a primary float arm (42) connected at one end to the primary valve, to the other end of which a primary float (46) is connected, and the primary float (46) moves upwardly as the water level in the tank (16) increases, thereby moving the primary valve from its open valve position to its closed valve position,and is assigned to the primary valve in a manner that controls the primary valve from the closed valve position to the open valve position via the float arm (42) with the downward movement following the decrease in the water level. The filling valve assembly includes a switch (49) which, when the water level in the tank (16) reaches a specified, prescribed upper value, causes the float arm (42) to move in a jump-like manner, thereby controlling the primary valve in a snap-like manner to its closed valve position, while during the snap-on valve closing, the other end of the float arm (42) is connected to the primary float (46) in a manner that is freely movable vertically upward relative to the primary float within a limited backlash range. à,

Description

The invention relates to a float-controlled filling valve assembly for regulating the flow of water entering a tank, comprising a valve unit defining a flow section connectable with an inlet pipe connection to a water source and an outlet pipe connection to a water purification unit, in which a primary valve is arranged that can be moved in both directions between an open and a closed valve position that closes the flow cross-section and thus the water flow towards the water purification unit. The filling valve assembly further comprises a float arm connected to the primary valve with one end, to the other end of which a primary float is connected. The primary float is assigned to the primary valve in such a way that, by its upward movement following the increase in the water level in the tank, the primary valve is switched from the open valve position to the closed valve position by means of the float arm, and by its downward movement following the decrease in the water level, the primary valve is switched from the closed valve position to the open valve position by means of the float arm. The float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention is advantageously applicable to water purification systems which include a water purification unit for continuously producing relatively purified water, the purified water being stored in a tank from which it can be conveniently dispensed, for example, by means of a hand tap. The float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention regulates the water flow entering the water purification unit as a function of the water level in the storage tank. Water purification systems comprising one or more purification stages in the form of filters and / or reverse osmosis water purification units are known to those skilled in the art of producing water of a quality suitable for drinking, cooking and other hygienic household uses. Such water purification systems typically have a reverse osmosis filter or membrane which, under appropriate flow conditions and pressure, separates the incoming tap water or other feed water into a relatively clean water stream and a waste water stream enriched in impurities. The membrane of the reverse osmosis water purification unit removes particulate matter and most of the dissolved matter, as well as other impurities, from a portion of the incoming tap water. The removed impurities are enriched in the waste water stream, which is usually discharged to the sewer.The purified water stream is normally stored in a tank, from which it can be withdrawn when needed using a hand tap or similar fitting. One potential disadvantage of reverse osmosis water purification systems is that, due to the operating principle, a portion of the incoming tap water is lost, which carries the enriched contaminants to the sewer in the form of a waste water stream. This loss of a portion of the incoming water stream is generally acceptable under normal operating conditions, i.e. while the purification unit is working at full capacity to fill the storage tank. However, when the storage tank is almost or completely full, a portion of the waste water stream that flows through the osmosis membrane to the sewer remains, resulting in significant and undesirable water losses in this operating condition. In order to avoid excessive water loss in reverse osmosis water purification systems, a known solution is to install a valve that controls the incoming water flow and that responds to the current filling level of the storage tank. Accordingly, a shut-off valve that responds to the pressure of the pressurized storage tank is installed in the water purification systems, which shuts off the water flow from the mains water entering the system when the tank is full. Such a solution is described, for example, in US Patent No. 4,776,952. In purification systems with an atmospheric pressure storage tank, a known solution is to install a solenoid valve that responds to the water level in the tank and shuts off the water flow from the mains water when the tank is full. However, such electric solenoid valves are relatively expensive and contain metal parts that, if damaged due to corrosion, will cause the tank to overflow. The object of the invention is to provide an improved and relatively cost-effective, yet highly reliable, mechanically operated float-operated fill valve assembly that regulates the flow of water from the water mains into the purification system in response to the water level in the purified water storage tank. The set objective is achieved by designing and using a float-controlled filling valve assembly having the known features listed in the introductory paragraph, which according to the new and defining feature of the invention comprises a rocker switch which, when the water level in the tank reaches a specified, prescribed upper value, causes the float arm to move abruptly, thereby snapping the primary valve into its closed valve position, while during the snapping valve closure the other end of the float arm is connected to the primary float in a manner that is freely movable vertically upwards relative to the primary float within a limited backlash range. The improved float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention can be advantageously incorporated into any water purification system with a storage tank, such as a water purification unit operating on the principle of reverse osmosis. Preferred embodiments of the float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention comprise a valve unit defining a flow section connectable with an inlet pipe connection to a water source and an outlet pipe connection to a water purification unit, in which a primary and secondary valve are arranged, which can be moved in both directions between an open and a closed valve position that closes the flow cross-section and thus the water flow towards the water purification unit. Such a filling valve assembly according to the invention comprises a float arm connected to the primary valve with its inner end in such a way that it moves the primary valve between the open and closed valve positions, and a primary float is associated with the outer end of which, following the water level in the tank, the water level in the tank reaches a higher set value compared to a specific first water level2 HU 222 384 BI when the primary valve is moved from the open valve position to the closed valve position, while when the water level drops below this prescribed first water level value, the primary valve is moved from the closed valve position to the open valve position. The filling valve assembly further comprises a float arm connected to the secondary valve with its inner end in a manner that drives the secondary valve between the open and closed valve positions, to which a secondary float is assigned, which, following the water level in the tank, when the water level in the tank reaches a specific second prescribed value higher than the water level assigned to the primary float, moves the secondary valve from the open valve position to the closed valve position, while when the water level drops below this prescribed second water level value, the secondary valve is moved from the closed valve position to the open valve position.According to a preferred solution, the primary valve is designed as a rocker valve with a valve disc arranged coaxially in an outer sealing ring and connected to it by a radial arm, in which the valve disc is designed as a structural element cast in one piece with the inner end of the primary float arm. The region of the primary float arm extending beyond the radial arm and the outer sealing ring is led out of the valve unit in a radially protruding manner, and the primary float is connected to the free end of the primary float arm. The secondary valve can preferably also be designed with the same structural solution. The valve unit of the float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention is preferably installed in the tank, the flow section is vertical, and the secondary valve is arranged in a position above the primary valve in the flow section when viewed vertically. Preferred embodiments of the float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention are structural solutions in which the primary valve and the secondary valve are both designed as a valve disc rocker valve arranged coaxially in an outer sealing ring and connected to it by a radial arm, in which the valve disc is designed as a structural element cast in one piece with the inner end of the float arm, the region of the float arm extending beyond the radial arm and the outer sealing ring is led out of the valve unit in a radially protruding manner, and the floats are connected to the free ends of the float arms. The secondary valve serves as a safety backup shut-off in the event of a primary valve failure. The primary valve is used to control the normal on / off flow of water into the cleaning module, while the secondary valve remains open. In the event of a primary valve failure, the water level in the tank rises above the level required to close the primary valve, raising the secondary float, which closes the secondary valve. It has been found advantageous if the valve seat for the secondary valve is sized so that the secondary valve remains closed after the water level in the tank has dropped and can only be opened again by means of a manually operated reset button. The float-controlled filling valve assembly according to the invention preferably comprises a two-position switch with intermediate energy storage as a toggle switch, which advantageously has a magnetic switching unit consisting of a movable first magnet held on the float arm and at least one second magnet working together with the first magnet. The first and second magnets are arranged with the same pole facing each other in a manner suitable for generating a magnetic repulsion force and excluding the occupation of a stable center position with respect to each other. As the water level in the tank rises, the primary float lifts the float arm and first moves the first magnet towards the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet. Then, when the specified required water level is reached, the buoyancy force acting on the primary float, which lifts the float arm, moves the first magnet beyond the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet, and controls the primary valve with a sudden snapping movement to the closed valve position, closing the flow cross-section. The essence, further features and advantages of the invention are described in more detail below by presenting an exemplary embodiment only, with reference to the figures of the attached drawing. In the drawing, Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a water purification system comprising a reverse osmosis module, in which an exemplary float-controlled fill valve assembly according to the invention controls the incoming water flow depending on the water level in a tank storing the purified water, the Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary float-operated fill valve assembly according to the invention installed in a tank, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary float-operated fill valve assembly, Figure 4 is a schematic top view of a float arm used in a float-controlled filling valve assembly, Figure 5 is a top view diagram of the float arm shown in Figure 4 and an associated rocker valve, Figure 6 shows the float arm with rocker valve in Figure 5. Longitudinal section taken along the 6-6 cutting plane, the Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the valve assembly forming part of the float-operated filling valve assembly, showing the primary and secondary valves in the open valve position, Figure 8 shows an enlarged vertical section similar to Figure 7, showing the primary valve in the closed position, the secondary valve in the open valve position, and the Figure 9 shows an enlarged vertical section similar to Figure 7, where the primary valve is shown in the open valve position and the secondary valve is shown in the closed valve position, the Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the valve unit of the filling valve assembly according to the invention, with the secondary valve repeated. A highlighted detail showing the reset button for opening the HU 222 384 Bl is shown, the Figure 11 also shows a perspective view of the detail of the rocker switch used to close the primary valve, In Figure 12, in a vertical section taken along the sectional plane 12-12 of Figure 12, the rocker switch for closing the primary valve is shown in the open position, In Figure 13, also in the vertical section taken along the sectional plane 12-12 of Figure 13, the toggle switch for closing the primary valve is shown as a highlighted detail in its closed position, while the Figure 14 shows a highlighted, enlarged detail of the primary float in a vertical section taken along section plane 14-14 of Figure 14. A water purification system 10 shown in block diagram in Figure 1 has an exemplary float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 according to the invention, the function of which is to control the water flow entering a water purification, filter unit or module of the water purification system 10, such as a reverse osmosis water purification unit 14 of the system shown in Figure 1, depending on the current water level of a tank 16 storing purified water 18. The float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 is installed in the tank 16, which stores a specific amount of purified water 18 produced by the water purification unit 14 and which can be withdrawn from the tank 16 in the desired amount by means of a hand tap 20 at the end of a discharge line 26. The float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 includes a pair of valves 18 operating in pairs,1 shows in detail a valve unit 28 consisting of two float-controlled valves, the valves of which control the water flow entering the water purification system 10 by turning it on and off depending on the water level in the tank 16. In addition, another toggle switch, also not shown in FIG. 1, immediately closes the float-controlled primary filling valve of the valve unit 28 when the water level in the tank 16 reaches its maximum. The water purification system 10 is primarily designed for domestic water supply and is intended to provide a supply of purified water 18 of a quality that can be safely used in the household from normal tap water or other water sources. The water purification system 10 filters and / or purifies the water by reverse osmosis in a manner known in the art, which operation produces two effluent streams from the incoming tap water or other water. One of these is purified water and the other is waste water containing contaminants. The purified water produced is normally conveyed from the water purification unit 14 to a storage tank via a clean water line 22, and the waste water is normally discharged from the water purification unit 14 to a sewer via a pipe 24. The hand tap 20 receives the purified water through the extraction line 26 either from the clean water line 22 itself or, as shown in the drawing, directly from the tank 16.An additional filter element, not shown in the drawing, may be installed to further filter the purified water entering the clean water line 22 from the water purification unit 14. An exemplary design of this type of water purification unit 14 operating on the principle of reverse osmosis is described in detail in US Patent No. 5,045,197, from which we quote again below. In the purification system 10 shown as an example in Figure 1, the purified water 18 is stored at atmospheric pressure, i.e. without overpressure, in the tank 16. The purified water 18 flows out of the tank 16 through the discharge line 26 under the influence of gravity at the hand tap 20. The float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 according to the invention is installed in the upper part of the tank 16 so that the water level in the tank 16 is maintained at a constant level by regulating the flow of water entering the water purification unit 14 with floats. As shown in Figure 2, the filling valve assembly 12 includes a valve unit 28. The multi-pinless valve housing of the valve unit 28 has an inlet pipe connection 30 for an inlet pipe 31 for introducing tap water, and an outlet pipe connection 32 for connecting a supply pipe 34 for introducing water into the water purification unit 14 operating on the principle of reverse osmosis. If the water level in the tank 16 is relatively low, i.e. lower than the required water level, the float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 admits water to the water purification unit 14, which purifies it and feeds it into the tank 16.However, if the water level in the tank 16 reaches the maximum level, the float-controlled fill valve assembly 12 closes the incoming water flow and thereby prevents potential water waste that would otherwise occur due to the water flow through the water purification unit 14 into the sewer. If the amount of purified water 18 in the tank 16 decreases due to the withdrawal of water through the hand faucet 20, the float-controlled fill valve assembly 12 again allows tap water to enter the water purification unit 14, in which the water purification begins again. As shown in greater detail in Figures 2-7 of the accompanying drawings, the float-operated fill valve assembly 12 has a primary valve 36 and a secondary valve 38 (Figures 3 and 7) arranged in series in a vertical flow section 40 between the inlet port 30 and the outlet port 32 of the valve assembly 28 (Figure 7). The primary valve 36 and the secondary valve 38 are respectively connected to the inner ends of float arms 42 and 44. The float arms 42, 44 extend laterally from the valve assembly 28 and are connected at their outer ends to a primary float 46 and a secondary float 48, respectively (Figure 3). The primary float 46 and the secondary float 48 are both provided with float elements similar to empty cans, for example, which move vertically with the rising water level in the tank 16, controlling the primary valve 36 and the secondary valve 38 installed in the flow section 40 between an open valve position and a closed valve position in a manner to be described in detail below.The secondary float 48 is positioned above the primary float 46 so that normally the primary float 46 associated with the primary valve 36 controls the flow of water through the valve assembly 28. This is best seen in Figures 3 and 11-13. The function of the HU 222 384 Bl toggle switch is to close the primary valve 36 with a definite snap when the water level in the tank reaches the maximum level. The secondary float 48 and the associated secondary valve 38 serve as a backup shut-off device in the event of failure of the primary float 46 or the primary valve 36. The valve assembly 28 has a multi-segment valve housing, which consists of housing segments 52, 53, 54 and 55, which are interconnected in layers by means of screws (Figs. 3 and 7) or similar fasteners. The upper housing segment 52 has an upwardly extending inlet pipe connection 30 for connecting the water inlet pipe 31. A middle housing segment 53 is connected to this upper housing segment 52 from below, and then a further middle housing segment 54 is connected to it. A lower housing segment 55 is connected to the housing segment 54, on which the outlet pipe connection 32 is formed. As best seen in Fig. 7, the housing segments 52, 53, 54 and 55 together define the flow section 40 formed in the valve assembly 28. A filter screen 56 is installed in a known manner between the two upper housing segments 52, 53, i.e. in front of the primary valve 36 and the secondary valve, which captures larger particles that may interfere with the operation of the valve unit 28.Furthermore, a sealing ring 58 is installed between the upper two housing segments 52, 53 to prevent unwanted water leakage. The housing segments 52, 53, 54 and 55 are held in a single axis by means of dowel pins 60 and their corresponding dowel holes 62. The primary valve 36 is mounted between the lower housing segments 54, 55. The primary valve 36 is a rocker valve having a central valve disc 64 made of a flexible or elastomeric material. The valve disc 64 is connected by a radial arm 66 to an outer concentric seal ring 68 which is coaxial with the flow section 40 and is mounted between the housing segments 54, 55. The valve disc 64 is located in the flow section 40, covering an annular primary valve seat 70, by means of which it regulates the flow of water to the outlet pipe 32. The inner end of the float arm 42 of the primary valve 36 is provided with a small diameter disc 72, clearly visible in Figures 4 and 6. The disc 72 located at the inner end is attached to the primary valve 36, preferably integrally molded with the central valve disc 64, as clearly visible in Figures 5-7. The float arm 42 extends from the valve disc 64 with the integrally molded radial arm 66 and the sealing ring 68 interposed therebetween, and extends radially from the valve unit 28 through a radially open slot 74 (Figure 3) defined by the two lower housing segments 54, 55. The outer end of the float arm 42 is connected to the primary float 46. In operation, the primary float 46 rises and falls with the level of the purified water 18 in the tank 16. When the water level in the tank 16 falls below a predetermined level, the primary float 46 falls and moves the float arm 42 extending from the valve unit 28 downwards, as shown in Figure 7. In this position, the float arm 42 lifts the valve disc 64 from the valve seat 70 below it, allowing water to flow into the water purification unit. When the water level in the tank 16 rises again to the required maximum, it also lifts the primary float 46, which brings the associated float arm 42 into a roughly horizontal position, as shown in Figure 8. The float arm 42 presses the valve disc 64 downwards onto the valve seat 70 underneath, thereby closing off the flow of water into the water purification unit 14. The toggle switch 49 causes the primary valve 36 to close abruptly, snapping shut, in response to the rising water level in the tank 16. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3 and Figures 11-13, the toggle switch 49 is designed as a magnetic switch unit having a first magnet 104 mounted on an upwardly extending projection 106 formed on or mounted on the float arm 42 so that the first magnet 104 is positioned for vertical movement in a radially outwardly opening slot 74 formed in the housing segment 54. The radially outwardly extending brackets 108 of the housing segment 54 (Figures 11-13) carry a pair of second magnets 110 which are arranged horizontally. The second magnets 110 are positioned relative to the first magnet 104 such that their north and south poles are in the positions shown in Figures 12 and 13, respectively, relative to each other.Alternatively, the second magnets 110 may be mounted on an additional structural member, such as a suitable mounting bracket or similar device, which is in a fixed position relative to the movable float arm 42. Thus, the second magnets 110 may be mounted, for example, on the housing or lower tank of the valve assembly 28, or on any other suitable structural member or unit of the fill valve assembly 10. When the water level in the tank 16 reaches the required maximum value, the primary float 46 rises, carrying with it the outer end of the float arm 42. This gradually moves the primary valve 36 towards the closed position, as described above. When the float arm 42 rises, the first magnet 104 on it rises to the height of the second magnets 110. When the first magnet 104 approaches the second magnets 110 (Figure 12), the magnetic repulsion of the same poles exerts resistance to the lifting of the float arm 42, which magnetic repulsion briefly prevents and slows down the further rise of the primary float 46 and the float arm 42, while water continues to flow into the tank 16, and the buoyancy force acting on the float 46 increases, trying to move the float arm 42 upwards with greater force.When the buoyancy of the rising water level exerts such a lifting force on the float 46 that it overcomes the repulsive force between the first magnet 104 and the second magnets 110, the float arm 42 rises abruptly, and due to the repulsive force between the magnets, the first magnet 104 moves to a position above the second magnets 110, as can be clearly seen in Figure 13. Due to this abrupt movement of the first magnet 104 and the associated float arm 42, the primary valve 36 closes firmly, snapping shut. As a result, the primary valve 36 practically never remains only slightly open, and thus water cannot continuously flow into the water purification unit 14 at such a low pressure that. HU 222 384 B1 would not be sufficient for the continuous production of purified water and the continuous filling of the tank 16. In the upper position shown in Figure 13, the magnetic repulsive force additionally helps to keep the primary valve 36 in a definite closed valve position. The primary float 46 is attached to the outer end of the associated float arm 42 with a limited vertical play connection to provide the quick snap-on closure of the primary valve 36 described above. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 11 and 14, the primary float 46 is attached to the outer end of the float arm 42 by a shoulder bolt 112 or similar fastener having a non-threaded pin portion 114 formed under a larger diameter head 116. When the water level increases toward the maximum value, the primary float 46 rests on the underside of the float arm 42, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 14. However, when the primary valve 36 closes in the above-mentioned snap-through manner due to the rising water level, the outer end of the float arm 42, while being lifted from the top of the primary float 46, is free to move upward along the pin portion 114 to the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 14.In this situation, since the primary valve 36 is already closed, no more purified water flows into the tank 16 and the primary float 46 does not rise any further. When water is removed from the tank 16, the water level in it decreases. During the water withdrawal, the primary float 46 initially sinks with the falling water level until the head of the shoulder screw 112 reaches the upper side of the float arm 42. In this position, the magnetic repulsion force that keeps the primary valve 36 closed also acts in the direction to prevent the primary float 46 from sinking further. However, if the water level continues to fall, an increasing part of the primary float 46 will protrude from the water, and thus an increasing downward gravity force will act on the float arm 42. When this force becomes greater than the magnetic repulsion force, the float arm 42 suddenly sinks and the primary valve 36 opens again in a snapping manner. Thereafter, the movement of the primary float 46 again follows the water level in the tank 16 until it is filled again with purified water 18.When the required maximum water level is reached, the primary float 46 and the rocker switch 49 work together in the manner described in detail above to close the primary valve 36 again with a rapid switching action. A weight 118 (Fig. 14) of a material, for example polypropylene, with a density approximately the same as that of water can be attached to the bottom of the primary float 46, which has no effect when the float 46 is immersed in water. However, when a significant part of the weight 118 is above the water level due to the decreasing water level in the tank 16, the weight 118 exerts a significant downward weight force on the float arm 42, thereby facilitating the repeated opening of the primary valve 36. The secondary valve 38 is substantially similar in structure and operation to the primary valve 36 with the following differences. The secondary valve 38, also designed as a rocker valve, is mounted between the middle pair of housing segments 53, 54. The secondary valve 38 also has a central valve disc 76 of flexible or elastomeric material, which is connected by a radial arm 78 to a sealing ring 80 coaxially disposed along the flow section 40 and mounted between the housing segments 53, 54. The valve disc 76 is positioned to cover an annular secondary valve seat 82, with which the flow of water to the outlet pipe 32 can be controlled. The inner end of the float arm 44 belonging to the secondary valve 38 ends in a small diameter disc 84 (Figure 7), which is conveniently cast in one piece with the valve disc 76, in the same way as the solution already mentioned for the primary valve 36.The secondary valve 38 also includes a sealing ring 80, and the float arm 44 terminates in a radial arm 78, preferably also integrally molded with it. The float arm 44 extends radially out of the valve unit 28 through a radially open slot 86 (FIG. 3) defined by the housing segments 53, 54. A secondary float 48 is attached to the outer end of the float arm 44. During normal operation, when the water level in the tank 16 is controlled by the primary valve 36, the alternating rising and falling water level does not rise enough to dislodge the secondary valve 38 from its normally open position. As shown in FIG. 7, the secondary float 48 is not normally raised by the water level in the tank 16, and its associated float arm 44 extends downwardly from the valve assembly 28, keeping the secondary valve plate 76 open. However, if the primary valve 36 or the primary float 46 fails, the level of the purified water 18 in the tank 16 will rise above the maximum allowable water level required to close the primary valve plate 64. In this case, as shown in Figure 9, the secondary float 48 raises the float arm 44 to a horizontal position, thereby moving the secondary valve disc 76 downward, which closes the valve seat 82, thereby stopping the flow of water entering the water purification unit 14. In the exemplary embodiment of the float-operated filling valve assembly 12 according to the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, the secondary valve 38 does not automatically reopen when the water level drops due to further water withdrawal from the tank 16. The open cross-section defined by the secondary valve seat 82 is large enough for the force exerted downward on the valve plate 76 by the normal water pressure to hold the secondary float 48 and the associated float arm 44 in the closed position. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the water level in the tank 16 drops so much that the primary valve 36 is brought into the open state, manual intervention is required to reopen the secondary valve 38 before clean water production can continue. The need to manually open the secondary valve 38 also serves as a warning that a malfunction has occurred in the system and that the malfunction must be corrected. 10 shows a manual reset button 88 for manually reopening the closed secondary valve 38. As shown, the reset button 88 has a flexible dome-shaped member 90 that is installed in a reset opening 92 formed in the lid or top wall 94 of the container 16. A, HU 222 384 Β1 the reset pin 96 extending from the underside of the element 90 extends into the lower tank, directly above the secondary float 48. If we wish to reopen the secondary valve 38, the reset button 88 is manually pressed in the direction of the arrow 97 shown in Figure 10, whereby the secondary float 48 moves downwards and the float arm 44 lifts the secondary valve disc 76 to the normal, open position. The resilient element 90 has sufficient internal elasticity to return to its normal position shown in Figure 10 after being pressed. The valve unit 28 of the float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 according to the invention also includes a flow restricting element 98 (FIG. 7) formed in the form of a constriction formed in the upper housing segment 52 in front of the primary valve 36 and the secondary valve 38. The internal diameter and length of the flow restricting element 98 are determined in such a way that, at the pressure usual in city water pipes, it limits the water flow through the valve unit 28 to a value smaller than this, but suitable for the production of purified water. An additional deflecting element 100 (FIG. 7) can also be arranged in or associated with the housing segment 53, which is actually a deflecting disk that is installed in the flow section 40 in front of the secondary valve 38. The baffle 100 defines an annular passageway of baffle openings 102 through which incoming water mains water can flow downwardly towards the secondary valve 38.When both the primary valve 36 and the secondary valve 38 are open to provide water flow to the water purification unit 14, the baffle 100 prevents the high velocity downward water jet pulse from driving and holding the secondary valve disc 76 closed. The baffle 100 directs the water flow downward in a ring around the circumference of the valve disc 76, so that it flows through the open valve seat 82 without significant backflow. The float-controlled filling valve assembly 12 according to the invention thus comprises, as essential structural units, two valves connected in series and controlled by independent floats. These are suitable for regulating the water level in the tank 16. The regulation is primarily carried out by the primary valve 36 of the valve unit 28, the secondary valve 38 only coming into operation as a safety shut-off valve if the primary regulation fails. The primary valve 36 is controlled by the primary float 46 in such a way that the connection between them is such that the opening and closing of the primary valve 36 occurs with a quick and definite, snapping movement by means of a rocker switch, preferably a switch unit containing magnets. The secondary valve 38 can preferably only be reopened by manual intervention. Thanks to this, it warns that there has been a failure in the system and that it must be repaired.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A float-controlled filling valve assembly for regulating the flow of water entering a tank, comprising a valve unit with a housing defining a flow section connectable with an inlet pipe connection to a water source and an outlet pipe connection to a water purification unit, in which a primary valve that can be immersed in both directions between an open and a closed valve position that blocks the flow cross-section and thus the water flow towards the water purification unit is arranged, the filling valve assembly further comprises a float arm connected with one end to the primary valve, to the other end of which a primary float is connected, the primary float, with its upward movement following the increase in the water level in the tank, moves the primary valve from its open valve position to its closed valve position by means of the float arm,and is assigned to the primary valve in a manner that controls the primary valve from the closed valve position to the open valve position by means of the float arm following the decrease in the water level, characterized in that the filling valve assembly (12) includes a rocker switch (49), which, when the water level in the tank reaches a specified, prescribed upper value, causes the float arm to move abruptly, thereby snapping the primary valve (36) into its closed valve position, while during the snapping valve closure, the other end of the float arm (42) is connected to the primary float in a manner that is freely movable vertically upward relative to the primary float (46) within a limited backlash range., 2. Float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a two-position switch with intermediate energy storage as a rocker switch (49).

3. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a magnetic switching unit consisting of a first magnet (104) held by the float arm (42) and at least one second magnet (110) working together with the first magnet (104) as a toggle switch (49), the first and second magnets are arranged with the same pole facing each other in a manner that prevents them from occupying a stable center position relative to each other, suitable for generating a magnetic repulsion force, during the rise of the water level of the tank, the primary float (46) lifts the float arm (42) and first moves the first magnet (104) in the direction of the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet (110), then when the specified prescribed water level is reached, the buoyancy force acting on the primary float that lifts the float arm moves the first magnet in the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet. By over-moving the primary valve, it switches to the closed valve position, closing the flow cross-section, with a sudden snapping movement.

4. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the magnetic switch unit serving as a toggle switch (49) comprises at least one second magnet (110) positioned in a position along the path of movement of the primary float relative to the moving floats.

5. The float-controlled filling valve assembly of claim 3, characterized in that the at least one second magnet (110) comprises a permanent magnet arranged on both sides along the displacement path of the first magnet (104) on the float arm (42).

6. A float-operated filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said connecting structural element, connected to the primary float (46) with a limited vertical backlash to the other end of the float arm (42), comprises a shoulder screw (112) with one end threadedly connected to the primary float (46), which has a relatively larger diameter screw head near the screw head (114) to which the other end of the float arm is slidably connected so that the length of the threadless pin portion of the shoulder screw (112) determines the amount of limited backlash in the connection between the float arm and the primary float.

7. The float-operated fill valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a weight mounted on the bottom of the primary float (46) made of a material having a density at least approximately the same as that of water and having a neutral buoyancy behavior when immersed in water.

8. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that during the decrease in the water level of the tank, the gravity of the primary float (46) moves the float arm (42) downwards, first moving the first magnet (104) towards the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet (110), and then the gravity acting on the primary float moves the first magnet beyond the neutral field force range formed by the second magnet, thereby controlling the primary valve to the open valve position with a sudden snapping movement.

9. Float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve unit also comprises a secondary valve (38) installed in the flow section (40), movable between an open and a closed valve position, in the closed valve position blocking the water flow towards the water purification unit, to which a secondary float (48) is assigned, which, following the water level in the tank, moves the secondary valve from the open valve position to the closed valve position when the water level in the tank reaches a predetermined value higher than the water level assigned to the primary float (46), while moving the secondary valve from the closed valve position to the open valve position when the water level drops below this predetermined higher value.

10. A float-operated filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve unit is installed in the tank (16).

11. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow section (40) is vertical.

12. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it is used to regulate the flow of water entering a water purification system, and the tank (16) is inserted into the water purification system in a manner suitable for receiving and at least temporarily storing purified water produced by a water purification unit.

13. Float-controlled filling valve assembly for regulating the water flow entering a tank, comprising a valve unit defining a flow section connectable with an inlet pipe connection to a water source and an outlet pipe connection to a water purification unit, characterised in that the valve unit comprises a primary and secondary valve (36, 38) which can be moved in both directions between an open and a closed valve position which closes the flow cross-section and thus the water flow towards the water purification unit, the filling valve assembly comprises a float arm connected to the primary valve (36) with its inner end in a manner which moves the primary valve between the open and closed valve positions, a primary float (46) being associated with the outer end thereof, which, following the water level in the tank, moves the primary valve (36) from the open valve position to the closed position when the water level in the tank reaches a predetermined value higher than a specific first water level. valve position,while when the water level drops below this predetermined first water level value, the primary valve is moved from the closed valve position to the open valve position, the filling valve assembly further comprises a float arm connected to the secondary valve with its inner end in such a way as to move the secondary valve (38) between the open and closed valve positions, to which a secondary float (48) is assigned, which, following the water level in the tank, when the water level in the tank reaches a specific second predetermined value higher than the water level assigned to the primary float, moves the secondary valve from the open valve position to the closed valve position, while when the water level drops below this predetermined second water level value, it moves the secondary valve from the closed valve position to the open valve position, where the primary valve (36) is designed as a valve disc rocker valve arranged coaxially in an outer sealing ring and connected to it by a radial arm, in which the valve plate one,the primary float arm (42) is formed as a structural element cast in one piece with the inner end, the region of the primary float arm extending beyond the radial arm and the outer sealing ring is led out of the valve unit in a radially protruding manner, and the primary float (46) is connected to the free end of the primary float arm., 14. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve unit is installed in the tank (16).

15. A float-operated filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the flow section (40) is vertical.

16. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the secondary valve (38) is arranged in a position above the primary valve (36) in the flow section (40) when viewed vertically.

17. Float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the secondary valve (38) is designed as a rocker valve with a valve disc arranged coaxially in an outer sealing ring and connected to it by a radial arm, in which the valve disc is designed as a structural element cast in one piece with the inner end of the secondary float arm (44), the region of the secondary float arm extending beyond the radial arm and the outer sealing ring is led out of the valve unit in a radially protruding manner, and the secondary float (48) is connected to the free end of the secondary float arm.

18. Float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that a filter screen for capturing and retaining particles contained in the water is also inserted in the flow section (40) before the primary and secondary valves (36, 38). HU 222 384 Bl 19. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that a deflector element is also inserted in the flow section (40) upstream of the primary and secondary valves (36, 38) to reduce the flow back pressure acting on the primary valve (36) in a closing sense.

20. A float-operated filling valve assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that it has a baffle element comprising structural elements that shape the water flow into an annular flow.

21. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that a flow restricting element comprising a narrowed inner bore of a defined length is also inserted into the flow section (40) in front of the primary and secondary valves (36, 38).

22. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the primary valve (36) comprises a primary valve seat closed by the valve disc of the primary valve in the closed valve position of the valve, the secondary valve comprises a secondary valve seat closed by the valve disc of the secondary valve in the closed valve position of the valve, and the size of the secondary valve seat is selected to maintain the secondary valve in the closed valve position even when the water level in the tank has dropped below the second higher value prescribed by the load force of the water pressure acting on it.

23. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 22, characterized in that it also has a structural unit for manually resetting the secondary valve (38) from its self-maintained closed valve position to its open valve position.

24. A float-operated filling valve assembly according to claim 23, characterized in that the structural unit for manually resetting the secondary valve (38) from its self-retaining closed valve position to the open valve position comprises a reset button arranged on the tank for moving the secondary float (48) downwards when manually actuated.

25. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises a rocker switch (49) which, when the water level in the tank reaches a predetermined upper value, switches the primary valve to its closed valve position in a snap-action manner.

26. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises a two-position switch with magnetic intermediate energy storage as a rocker switch (49).

27. A float-controlled filling valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that it is used to regulate the flow of water entering a water purification system, and the tank (16) is inserted into the water purification system in a manner suitable for receiving and at least temporarily storing purified water produced by a water purification unit.