Flood prevention device

Abstract

A flood prevention device for shutting off a fluid supply to a fluid reservoir i.e. sink or basin is described. The device comprises a casing 102, a rotatable valve 116 and a trigger assembly 122. The

Description

Field of the Invention

[01] The present disclosure relates to a flood prevention device for a basin (and the like). In particular the disclosure is concerned with a mechanical flood prevention device which shuts off a fluid supply to the basin when a fluid level becomes too high. Background

[02] The aim of a flood prevention device is, as the name suggests, to prevent a basin (sink, bath, etc) which is being filled with water from overfilling and potentially flooding a surrounding environment (which would of course cause damage). Such devices are particularly popular in commercial properties such as hotels, where clients can be unfamiliar with the operation of a bath / sink (e.g., how quickly it fills), or simply more likely to forget a tap being left on. Such devices are also becoming more popular in the domestic sector, particularly on fresh bathroom or kitchen installations such as new build properties.

[03] One approach to flood prevention is to cut off the supply of water to the basin when water from the basin enters an overflow plug (usually positioned someway up the side of the basin). Current devices on the market which operate on this principle involve the use of electronics and / or magnets to shut off the water supply, which significantly increases complexity of the device and associated manufacturing costs. Such complex devices also tend to be overly large and bulky, which can make them unsuitable for retrofit installation to many bathrooms; in such cases installation of a flood prevention device may require a completely new bath / sink installation, thereby increasing the cost of flood prevention significantly.

[04] Hence it is highly desirable to provide an improved flood prevention device as an alternative to previously available designs. Summary

[05] The example embodiments have been provided with a view to addressing at least some of the difficulties that are encountered with current flood prevention devices, whether those difficulties have been specifically mentioned above or will otherwise be appreciated from the discussion herein.

[06] The present invention is defined according to the independent claims. Additional features will be appreciated from the dependent claims and the description herein. Any embodiments which are described but which do not fall within the scope of the claims are to be interpreted merely as examples useful for a better understanding of the invention. 11 03 25

[07] Suitably, in one aspect of the invention there is provided a flood prevention device which shuts off a fluid supply to a fluid reservoir. The device comprises a casing, a rotatable valve, and a trigger assembly. The casing comprises an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid supply, an outlet for outputting fluid received by the inlet for onward supply to the fluid reservoir, and an opening for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir. The rotatable valve, which is housed within the casing, comprises a cavity configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and outlet when the rotatable valve is in a first position. The trigger assembly is configured to be actuated by fluid flow from the reservoir into the casing through the opening in the casing, and actuating the trigger assembly causes the rotatable valve to rotate to a second position in which the cavity is unaligned with at least one of the inlet and outlet, thereby disconnecting fluid flow between the inlet and outlet. The means for rotating the rotatable valve and setting I actuating the trigger assembly are mechanical in nature, significantly reducing the costs associated with manufacture of the device. The device further comprises a cover plate connected to the rotatable valve. Suitably, the rotatable valve may be rotated from the second position to the first position using the cover plate (i.e., by gripping and rotating the cover plate), thereby providing a convenient means to reset the device.

[08] In one example, the rotatable valve may comprise rotational biasing means biasing rotation towards the second position, which is preferably a spring such as a spiral wound torsion spring. The rotatable valve may be held in the first position (i.e., the device may be set) by comprising a slot into which an arm of the trigger assembly is receivable when the rotatable valve is in the first position; suitably, actuating the trigger assembly may comprise the arm moving out of this slot in the rotatable valve. The trigger assembly (i.e., arm thereof) may be held within the slot by the linear biasing means (which may be attached between the trigger assembly and casing). Suitably the linear biasing means may comprise a mechanical spring. In this way the device may comprise an easy to manufacture, simple to trigger, and convenient to reset mechanism (because the trigger assembly automatically gets pulled into the slot to hold the valve in place, when the valve is reset to the first position).

[09] In one example the casing may comprises a guide slot within which the arm of the trigger assembly slidably moves, and which is aligned with the slot in the rotatable valve when in the first position, thereby making reset of the device more consistent and less prone to problems arising from potential misalignment of the trigger.

[10] In one example the second position is a predetermined degree of rotation with respect to the first position, and the rotatable valve comprises means to engage the trigger when in the second position. Such means may be a notch provided to catch the arm of the trigger assembly mentioned above. In this way over rotation of the valve may be prevented, which aids resetting of the device (i.e., by removing guess work over how much the valve needs to be rotated to reset to the first position). 11 03 25

[11] In one example the casing may comprise a drain in fluid communication with the opening, and the trigger assembly may be suitably arranged to be actuated by fluid free flowing between the opening and the drain due to gravity. The trigger assembly may comprises a distal plate section aligned substantially orthogonal to the fluid flow between the opening and the drain, and so in a preferred arrangement the distal plate is aligned substantially horizontally (with respect to the earth / ground).

[12] In one example the device comprises a set of inlets and a set of outlets, with each inlet in the set of inlets being associated pairwise with one of the outlets in the set of outlets. Furthermore, the rotatable valve may suitably comprise a set of cavities, each cavity in the set being associated with an inlet-outlet pair. Such an arrangement is particularly beneficial when the device is to be installed with a bath, which typically desires hot and cold water supply (i.e., two inlets, two outlets, and two cavities).

[13] In a related aspect of the invention, there is provided a basin, such as a bathtub or sink., comprising the aforementioned flood prevention device. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] For a better understanding of the present disclosure reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[15] Fig. 1 shows an exploded assembly view of an example flood prevention device (1A and 1B showing the same assembly from different perspectives);

[16] Fig. 2 shows different views of a rear casing of the flood prevention device;

[17] Fig. 3 shows different views of a front casing of the flood prevention device;

[18] Fig. 4 shows different views of a rotatable valve of the flood prevention device;

[19] Fig. 5 shows different views of a trigger assembly of the flood prevention device; and

[20] Fig. 6 shows different views of an example flood prevention device mounted in a basin wall. Detailed Description

[21] At least some of the following example embodiments provide an improved flood prevention device. The example device can be manufactured at low cost (compared to more complicated designs) and is convenient for a user to retrofit into a basin or the like. Moreover, at least some examples offer improved water shut off compared to contemporary designs. Many other advantages and improvements will be discussed in more detail herein.

[22] With reference to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown an example flood prevention device 100 for a basin 10. The example flood prevention device 100 acts to shut off mains water supply 12 to the basin 10 (e.g., water coming from a tap) when the basin gets too full, which may be 11 03 25 determined by water outflowing the basin via an overflow hole. Although the foregoing will discuss the invention in the context of water supply to a basin (e.g., a bath), it will be readily appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited thereto and the presently described flood prevention device 100 may be suitable for use with any general fluid reservoir being filled by a (substantially liquid) fluid from a suitable fluid source / supply.

[23] The example device 100 comprises a casing 102 which is divided into a front portion 104 and a rear portion 106. The front casing 104 comprises an opening 108 through which water may flow into the device 100 from the basin 10. Suitably the opening 108 serves the role of overflow hole for the basin 10. The front casing 104 also comprises a drain 110 which is couplable to a drain pipe not shown) for the basin 10. The drain 110 and opening 108 are in fluid communication through the casing 102 so that water received into the device 100 through the opening 108 flows out through the drain 110. In the present example, the drain 110 is suitably oriented below the opening 108, so that gravity causes overflow water entering through the opening 108 to flow towards the drain 110.

[24] The rear casing 106 comprises at least one inlet 112 for receiving mains water, and at least one outlet 114 by which water received via the inlet 112 may outflow from the device 100 during filling of the basin. In other words, water from the supply which is used to fill the basin 10 must flow through the device 100. Preferably, the rear casing comprises two inlets 112C, 112H, corresponding to hot and cold water supply, as would be expected for a typical bath or sink. Correspondingly two outlets are also provided, 114C, 114H corresponding to the hot and cold inlets 112H,C. In principle, however, any number of fluid inlets, and corresponding outlets, may be provided if there is a desire for use of the device with multi fluid source systems. Put another way, the inlet 112 may be considered one of a set of inlets, and the outlet 114 one of a set of outlets, with each inlet in the set of inlets being associated pairwise with one of the outlets in the set of outlets, preferably in a one to one relationship - i.e., the inlets and outlets are preferably provided in inlet-outlet pairs.

[25] Fluid flow through the device 100 between the inlet 112 and outlet 114 is provided by a rotatable valve 116. More specifically, the rotatable valve 116 comprises a cavity 118 providing fluid communication between the inlet 112 and outlet 114. Where the device comprises a set of associated inlets 112 and outlets 114, the rotatable valve 116 may suitably comprise an associated set of separate cavities 118 - i.e., a cavity per inlet-outlet pair. For example, in the case of a hot and cold fluid supply, the rotatable valve may comprise respective hot and cold fluid cavities 118H,C corresponding to the hot and cold inlets 112H,C and outlets 114H,C.

[26] Suitably, the rotatable valve 116 is housed within the casing 102 (i.e., when the front 104 and rear 106 are joined together). In particular, the rotatable valve 116 may be designed to snugly, but slidably, rest within the rear casing 106. Importantly, the rotatable valve 116 is moveable (i.e., rotatable) within the casing 102 between a first (open) position and a second (closed) position; 11 03 25 the first position being a pre-set starting (i.e., trigger) position, and the second position being some predetermined degree of rotation with respect to the first position. In the first position, fluid can flow readily through the cavity 118 between the inlet 112 and outlet 114 (i.e., they are in fluid communication). In the second position, the cavity 118 is unaligned with at least one of the inlet 112 and outlet 114, so that there is no fluid communication between the inlet 112 and outlet 114; in particular, an exterior surface 117 of the valve may cover at least one of the inlet 112 and outlet 144. In other words, when the valve 116 is in the first position water may flow into the basin 10, and when the valve 116 is in the second position, water cannot flow from the supply 12 to the basin 10.

[27] Rotation between the first position and second position may be achieved by rotational biasing means 120. Suitably, the rotatable valve is biased towards the second position (from the first position) so that, in the absence of any counter forces, the rotatable valve would rest in the second position. Preferably, such means are mechanical, such as a spring, and in particular a spiral wound torsion spring (sometimes termed a mainspring, or clockwork spring); it will however be appreciated that other mechanical biasing means may also be appropriate.

[28] The device 100 comprises a trigger assembly 122 which is arranged on an opposite side of the valve 116 to the cavity 118. That is, the trigger assembly 122 is housed within a cavity formed by the combination of the rotatable valve 116 and front casing 104. It will therefore be appreciated that the valve 116 acts as a separator between the fluid inflow to, and outflow from, the basin 10.

[29] The rotatable valve 116 is secured in the first position by the trigger assembly 122. Suitably, the rotatable valve 116 may comprise means to engage the trigger assembly 122 when the rotatable valve is in the first position. For example, the rotatable valve 116 may comprise a slot 124 into which an arm 126 of the trigger assembly 122 may be (snugly) received. The trigger assembly 122 may be held in position by similar engagement means provided on the casing 102 (as one way to prevent it simply being rotated along with the valve); in the present example, the front casing 104 comprises a slot 128, similar to that on the rotatable valve 116, into which the same arm 126 (or at least, a part thereof) may be received; the slot 128 may act as a guide within which the arm 126 may slidably move, to ensure that the arm 126 remains aligned with the slot 124 in the first position. Put another way, the trigger assembly 122 may comprise a male engagement appendage 126, while the valve 116 and casing 102 comprise mutually corresponding female receivers 124, 128. More generally, it will be appreciated that the trigger assembly 122, rotating valve 116, and casing 102 comprise mutually corresponding features by which the trigger 122 secures the rotating valve 116 in the first position.

[30] Suitably, the trigger assembly 122 comprises linear biasing means 130 which bias the trigger assembly 122 towards the top of the slots 124, 128 in the rotatable valve 116 and casing 102. Put another way, the biasing means 130 engage the trigger assembly 122 with the 11 03 25 casing 102 (more specifically, front portion 104 thereof) and the rotating valve 116 in the first position. That is, the biasing means 130 bias the trigger assembly towards its set I ready / waiting position, and so also provide for the device 100 to be reset after actuation. Preferably such biasing means 130 are mechanical, such as a spring, which may be secured via suitable hooks between corresponding pegs 132 provided on the trigger assembly 122 and casing 102 (preferably front casing 104). In the present example two such springs are provided in parallel either side of the arm 126. For ease of manufacture and assembly, the pegs 132 of the trigger assembly may be provided on a rod 131 designed to be inserted into a passage 133 formed in the arm 126 and top end of the trigger assembly 122, with the arm 126 comprising a hollow 135 configured to slide onto the top end so as to be secured in place by the rod 131.

[31] The trigger assembly 122 is configured to be actuated by fluid flow entering the device 100 through the opening 108 - that is, fluid received in the device 100 from the basin (reservoir) 10. More specifically, in the present example the trigger assembly 122 is actuated by fluid flowing between the opening 108 and the drain 110 due to gravity. Suitably, the trigger assembly 122 comprises a distal plate section 134 aligned substantially orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow between opening 108 and drain 110. In the present example, where the flow is substantially vertical due to gravity, the distal plate 134 is substantially horizontal. Here the distal plate 134 is shown as substantially planar, but it will be appreciated that other shapes could be utilised which achieve the same effect. Actuating the trigger 122 pulls the arm 126 out of the slot 124 to cause the rotatable valve 116 to rotate from the first position - in which fluid between inlet 112 and outlet 114 is allowed permissible - to the second position - in which fluid cannot flow between inlet 112 and outlet 114 - due to the biasing of the rotatable valve by spring 120. In some examples the rotatable valve 116 may comprise means to engage the trigger assembly 122 when the rotatable valve 116 is in the second position so as to prevent over extension of the valve biasing means 120. Conveniently, in the present example such means are provided by a substantially radially aligned notch 136 provided in the inner surface of the rotatable valve 116 which catches the arm 126 when the valve 116 is rotated.

[32] The trigger assembly 122 also comprises a slot 138 through which a connecting rod 140 may pass. The connecting rod 140 rigidly connects the rotatable valve 116 to a cover 142 via the opening 108. In this way rotation of the rotatable valve 116 rotates the cover 142, and vice versa. Suitably, the cover 142 may provide a convenient means by which the rotatable valve may be rotated in reverse from the second position to the first position, thereby resetting the device 100. (by the spring(s) 130 pulling the trigger 122 back into the slot 124 on the valve 116). Suitably, the slot 136 is dimensioned to allow for rotation of the connecting rod 138.

[33] Thus, in operation (i.e., in situ, preferably arranged proximate to a rim 14 of a basin 10), the flood prevention device 100 of the present disclosure works as follows. 11 03 25

[34] Water (i.e., a fluid), such as may be provided by a mains water supply, a boiler or storage tank, or the like, enters the device 100 via the inlet 110. The water flows through the cavity 118 in the valve 116 to the outlet 112, from which it continues an onward flow to the basin 10 - e.g., by flowing through suitable piping to a suitable tap for the basin 10.

[35] Water which begins to overfill the basin 10 (the level of normal water fill permitted being determined by the position of the device 100) enters the opening 108 to flow toward drain 110. The overflow water therefore pushes against the trigger 122 (specifically the distal plate 134). When the flow becomes strong enough to overcome the tension in the spring(s) 130, the trigger 122 is actuated.

[36] Actuating the trigger assembly 122 disengages the trigger 122 from the slot 124 provided on the rotating valve 116. This releases the rotatable valve 116, causing it to rotate from the first position to the second position by action of the rotational biasing means 120. With the valve 116 in the second position, water can no longer flow through the device 100 to the basin 10 (i.e., the fluid path between the inlet 110 and outlet 112 is blocked off by the valve 116). Water flow has been shut off, preventing a possible flood.

[37] To reset the device 100 (which one imagines would also be after turning the tap(s) off to the basin, the cover 142 is (manually) rotated to counteract the previous rotation of the rotatable valve 116 so as to rotate the rotatable valve 116 from the second position back to the first position - i.e., if the valve 116 was arranged to rotate in a clockwise direction from first position to second position, then the cover 142 may be rotated anti-clockwise to reset the device 100. In this way the trigger assembly 122 re-engages with the rotatable valve 116 via the slot 124, locking the valve in the open position, and the trigger is effectively reset ready for the next time there is an overflow of water.

[38] It will be appreciated that the example device 100 described herein may be formed from a variety of materials suitable for use in plumbing. In particular, the casing 102, trigger assembly 122, cover 142, and connecting rod 140, may be formed from a plastic material such as one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ‘ABS’, polyvinyl chloride ‘PVC’, chlorine treated PVC ‘CPVC’, High-density polyethylene ‘HDPE’, and cross-linked polyethylene ‘PEX’. ABS in particularly preferred due to its ability to be 3D printed. The rotating valve 116 however should be manufactured from a material which allows for low friction (sliding) rotation, but which also creates a good seal with the casing so as to prevent fluid supply leaking past the valve 116 to the drain 110. While a range of suitable materials exist, as would be appreciated by those in the art, it is particularly preferred that the valve 116 is formed with a porcelain finish.

[39] In summary, exemplary embodiments of an improved flood prevention device have been described. The described exemplary embodiments are convenient to manufacture (and cheaper) and straightforward to use (including convenient to retrofit to existing baths, etc). 11 03 25

[40] The example flood prevention device may be manufactured industrially. An industrial application of the example embodiments will be clear from the discussion herein.

[41] Although preferred embodiment(s) of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[42] Although the example embodiments have been described with reference to the components, modules and units discussed herein, such functional elements may be combined into fewer elements or separated into additional elements. Various combinations of optional features have been described herein, and it will be appreciated that described features may be combined in any suitable combination. In particular, the features of any one example embodiment may be combined with features of any other embodiment, as appropriate, except where such combinations are mutually exclusive. Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” or “comprises” means including the components) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others.

[43] All of the features disclosed in this specification, and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive.

[44] Each feature disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[45] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification, or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[46] Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 11 03 25

Claims

1. A flood prevention device which shuts off a fluid supply to a fluid reservoir, comprising:a casing comprising an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid supply, an outlet for outputting fluid received by the inlet for onward supply to the fluid reservoir, and an opening for receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir;a rotatable valve housed within the casing and comprising a cavity, the cavity being configured to provide fluid communication between the inlet and outlet when the rotatable valve is in a first position; anda trigger assembly configured to be actuated by fluid flow from the reservoir into the casing through the opening;wherein actuating the trigger assembly causes the rotatable valve to rotate to a second position in which the cavity is unaligned with at least one of the inlet and outlet, thereby disconnecting fluid flow between the inlet and outlet; andfurther comprising a cover plate connected to the rotatable valve, and wherein the rotatable valve is rotatable from the second position to the first position using the cover plate.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotatable valve comprises rotational biasing means biasing rotation towards the second position.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the rotational biasing means comprises a spring.

4. The device of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotatable valve comprises a slot into whichan arm of the trigger assembly is receivable when the rotatable valve is in the first position.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein actuating the trigger assembly comprises the arm moving out of the slot in the rotatable valve.

6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the trigger assembly comprises linear biasing means to hold the trigger assembly within the slot in the rotatable valve in the first position.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the linear biasing means comprises a spring.11 03 258. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the casing comprises a guide slot within which the arm of the trigger assembly slidably moves.

9. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the second position is a predetermined degree of rotation with respect to the first position, and the rotatable valve comprises means to engage the trigger when in the second position.

10. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the casing comprises a drain in fluid communication with the opening.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the trigger is arranged to be actuated by fluid free flowing between the opening and the drain due to gravity.

12. The device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the trigger assembly comprises a distal plate section aligned substantially orthogonal to the fluid flow between the opening and the drain.

13. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the inlet is one of a set of inlets, and the outlet is one of a set of outlets, with each inlet in the set of inlets being associated pairwise with one of the outlets in the set of outlets, and wherein the rotatable valve comprises a set of cavities, each cavity in the set being associated with an inlet-outlet pair14. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the casing is divided into a front portion and a rear portion, the front casing comprising the opening, and the rear casing comprising the inlet and the outlet.

15. The device of any preceding claim, wherein un-aligning the at least one of the inlet and outlet comprises covering at least one of the inlet and outlet with an exterior surface of the rotatable valve.

16. The device of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the casing and the trigger assembly is formed from at least one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ‘ABS’, polyvinyl chloride‘PVC’, chlorine treated PVC ‘CPVC’, High-density polyethylene ‘HDPE’, or cross-linked polyethylene ‘PEX’.

17. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the rotating valve comprises a porcelain finish.

18. A basin, such as a bathtub, comprising the flood prevention device of any of claims 1 to 17.LDCM

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