A fill valve

Abstract

A cistern fill valve 10 comprising a body section 12, an elongate fill valve conduit 14 connected to one side of the body section and a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism comprises an inne

Description

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a fluid fill valve, particularly to a fill valve and preferably, a cistern fill valve for a toilet cistern. Background to the Invention Cistern fill valves for toilets can be particularly difficult to fit. This is because toilet cisterns are generally deep, in order to hold water, and one part of the fill valve needs to be held on the internal surface of the cistern and a second part needs to be fitted on the opposite side of the surface of the cistern. Thus, where a single fitter is installing the fill valve, they need to reach inside the cistern with one hand whilst holding a separate part external of the cistern. This can be fiddly and two installers are preferable, but that can incur cost and takes a person from a different job just to hold a piece in place. When fitted, a problem with existing fill valves is that having O-rings on both sides of the cistern surface leads to two potential areas for failure and leakage, especially as both sections normally fit into place with threads and those threads can be cross-threaded, leading to problems later on. Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cistern fill valve comprising: a body section; an elongate fill valve conduit connected to one side of the body section; and a connection mechanism, wherein the connection mechanism comprises an inner core section extending from the body section, the inner core section having an axial bore therethrough and an inner core support extending transversely across the bore, the inner core support having an aperture therein; the connection mechanism further comprises: an outer tubular elastomeric expandable member coaxial with the inner core section and external thereof, a first end of the expandable member being proximal the body section and a second end of the expandable member being distal the body section; and an end element adjacent the second end of the expandable member, the end element having an internal end element support, the end element support further comprising an aperture therein; wherein, an elongate member is provided, the elongate member having a head and a shaft, the shaft extending through the aperture of the inner core support and through the aperture of the end element support; and an actuation mechanism is provided that can draw the end element towards the body section to axially compress the expandable member, resulting in radial expansion of the expandable member. The arrangement of the present invention provides a mechanism for securing a cistern fill valve into a cistern. It will be understood that the fill valve will comprise a float valve, and the float valve comprises a float body to control the flow of water therethrough. It will be appreciated that when the end element is spaced away from the body section, the expandable member has a first, extended position, in which the diameter of the expandable member has a first dimension. When the end element is moved towards the body section, the expandable member is moved into a second, compressed position; compressed between the end element and the body section. In this second, compressed position, the expandable element is compressed axially and expands radially, which results in a second, enlarged diameter. Therefore, when the expandable element is in the first, extended position, it can pass through an aperture that is slightly larger than the diameter of the expandable section. Subsequently, upon moving into the compressed position, the diameter of the expandable section is increased so that it is larger than the diameter of the aperture. As a result, the fill valve cannot pass back through the aperture when in the second, compressed position. This locks the fill valve in place within a surface, which is, preferably, the lower surface of the cistern. The inner core section is arranged to reinforce the lower part of the arrangement and it also ensures that the expandable member, which is arranged around the inner core section, cannot expand inwardly. As a result, when the expandable member is compressed axially, it is forced to expand radially outwards, thereby reliably increasing the diameter. Thus, the inner core forces the expandable member to increase in diameter when compressed, preventing the fill valve from passing back through the surface, when installed. It is preferable that the elongate member extends at least halfway up the fill valve conduit. The fill valve is best installed from the intended top of the cistern, which is to say that the lid is removed from a cistern and the fill valve fitted through the open surface. By having the head of the elongate member at a position at least halfway up the fill valve conduit, it can be readily accessed. It will be appreciated that the elongate member may comprise two or more sections that combine to form the elongate member; however, having a single piece elongate member reduces the risk of problems developing with the device, for example, by sections disconnecting. The elongate fill valve conduit may be fixedly connected to, or removably connected to, the body section. It may be useful for the elongate fill tube to be releasably connected to the body section so that should the fill valve undergo mechanical malfunction, the parts above the body section can be readily replaced. That said, in some arrangements, it may be desirable to have the parts permanently connected or integrally formed In a first arrangement, the fill valve conduit comprises a support to support the end of the elongate member distal from the connection mechanism. The elongate member may be relatively long should it extend within the fill valve conduit, and so it may be useful for one or more elongate member supports, which may be integral or removeable, to be provided in order to reduce the risk of unintentional movement of the head of the elongate member relative to the body section. This reduces the risk of the elongate member bending or shearing during use. In one arrangement, the head of the elongate member is adapted to receive a tool or is adapted to fit onto a tool and the actuation mechanism comprises rotation of the elongate member, and, preferably, the elongate member comprises external threads and rotation of the elongate member results in axial movement of the elongate member. The elongate member may be in the form of a bolt that can have threads around its external surface. In such an arrangement, the head can be pulled axially or rotated to effect axial movement. Thus, it is useful that the head of the elongate member can engage with a tool. Therefore, a recess for accepting a screwdriver, hex-key or similar protruding element may be present in the first end of the flexible connector. Additionally, or alternatively, the first end of the flexible connector may be shaped to be received in a wrench, a spanner, a drill or a recess in a changeable-end screwdriver. Preferably, the external surface of the end element is arranged to be external of the expandable member. Having at least part of the end element outside the expandable member exposed part of that end element when installed. This can be used to provide a connection mechanism for a water supply. As such, the elongate member may be provided with an external thread that engages with an internal thread in the aperture of the inner core support and / or with an internal thread in the aperture of the end element support. Rotation of the threaded elongate member will then produce axial movement of the end element, relative to the inner core. It is preferred that the aperture of the inner core support is not provided with a thread and that the end element is provided with an internal thread, so that rotation of the elongate member results in axial movement of the end element along the elongate member. Although it is envisaged that the elongate member may also move axially relative to the inner core, this is less preferable, because it may result in lower compression forces. In a second arrangement the fill valve actuation mechanism may comprise a cam and lever arrangement and wherein activation of the lever results in axial movement of the elongate member. Thus, a lever can be operated that uses a cam to bring about axial movement of the elongate member. It is envisaged that a ratchet mechanism may be incorporated into the fill valve to bring about the compression of the tubular expandable member. Advantageously, the inner core section extends beyond the end element and a connection mechanism is provided to allow a water supply to be attached thereto. The fill valve may be arranged to accept a conduit for the supply of water, also known as “tap tails”, or a water supply conduit may connect directly to the fill valve using a connection mechanism. It will be appreciated that threads, a bayonet fitting or another style of connection may be used, with elastomeric seals provided as required. The connection mechanism for connecting a water supply may be provided on the inner core, but, more preferably, it is provided externally on the end element and it may be in the form of an external threaded section. It will be appreciated that an O-ring seal may be provided on the threaded section to reduce the risk of leaks. The body section may be provided with a flange that, when installed, is positioned adjacent the internal surface of the cistern. A separate seal element may be positioned between the flange and the surface to reduce the risk of water ingress under the flange and through the aperture in the surface; however, it is preferable that the tubular expandable section extends radially adjacent the body section in addition to a seal element or in order to negate the need for a separate seal element. Preferably, the tubular expandable section has a solid external surface, which is to say that the external surface has no slits, slots or apertures therein. This is to reduce the risk of leaks through the expandable section when the tap, faucet or conduit is installed, because the expandable section forms a ‘solid’ seal against water ingress. The end element may be directly connected to the expandable member, or it may sit within the end element or external thereof. In any of the embodiments, movement of the end element axially compresses the expandable element. The expandable member is, preferably, a resiliently yieldable material, such as a rubber material. The expandable member may be provided with creases, ribs, folds or other elements that encourage a predetermined deformation upon compression of the tubular seal. Thus, the present invention provides a mechanism for securing a cistern fill valve into a cistern from a single side, thereby removing the need to have access to both sides of the surface and requiring only a single person for installation. The invention extends to a toilet cistern comprising a cistern fill valve according to any preceding claim. Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a cistern fill valve in accordance with the present invention, in a first position; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fill valve of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of the fill valve of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view of the fill valve of Figure 1 in a second position; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fill valve of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part of the fill valve of Figure 5. Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments Figures 1 to 6 show a cistern fill valve 10 having a body section 12. On a first side of the body section 12 is an elongate fill valve conduit 14 and on the opposite side of the body section 12, is an inner core section 16. The elongate fill valve conduit 14 is provided with a float valve arrangement 18 distal from the body section 12, with the float valve arrangement 18 comprising a float 20 connected to an arm 22. The float valve arrangement 18 operates in a known manner. The body section 12 has a bore therethrough that allows fluid communication from the elongate fill valve conduit 16 though the inn core section 16. The body section further comprises a radially extending flange 24. The inner core section 16 extends from the lower surface of the body section 12 and the inner core section 16 is arranged coaxially with the bore of the body section 12. The inner core has a passageway, or bore, therethrough, thereby allowing fluid to flow through the inner core section 16 the body section 12 and the elongate fill valve conduit 14. The inner core 16 is provided with two slots diametrically opposite one another and extending along part of the length of the inner core 16. The upper end of the inner core 16 is provided with an inner core support 26 that extends diametrically across the bore of the inner core section 16. The inner core support 26 has an aperture at its midpoint. Arranged around the external surface of the inner core 16 is an expandable member 30. This is in the form of a tube of elastomeric material that has a first end 32 adjacent the flange 24 of the body section 12, and a second end 34 distal from the body section 12. The first end 32 of the expandable member 30 is provided with a radially extending flange that sits underneath the flange 24 of the body section 12. The expandable member 30 extends along the inner core section 16 so that the second end 34 of the expandable member 30 is arranged to be positioned along the length of the inner core section 16. Also arranged coaxially with the inner core section 16, and external thereof, is an end element 36, which is positioned adjacent the second end 34 of the expandable member 30. The end element 36 may be affixed to the expandable member 30 at, or adjacent to, the second end 34 of the expandable member 30. Additionally, or alternatively, the end element 36 may extend radially so that it has a diameter larger than that of the expandable member 30. The end element 36 is arranged around the inner core 26, and the end element 36 is provided with a bar 38 that extends across the diameter of the end element 36. The bar 38 constitutes an end element support and the bar 38 is received within the respective slots of the inner core section 16. Thus, the bar 38 can move within the slots of the inner core section 16, thereby allowing the end element to move longitudinally along the inner core. The end element support, or bar, 38, and an aperture at its midpoint, with the aperture having an internal thread. An elongate member 40, in the form of a bolt, has an external thread along its length and a head section 42. The head section 42 comprises a recess to accept the end of a screwdriver. The elongate member 40 is arranged within the aperture of the inner core support 26 and within the aperture of the bar 38. Thus, the elongate member 40 engages the apertures of both the inner core support 26 and the end element support bar 38, with the internal threads of the aperture of the bar 38 engaging the external threads of the elongate member 40. An internal support 44 is provided to support the elongate member 40 and to reduce the freedom of movement thereof. The internal support is in the form of a cup-shaped insert, which is to say that it has a U-shaped cross-section, that fits into the fill conduit 14. The insert has an aperture therein to allow the elongate member 40 to pass therethrough. The cistern fill valve 10 is put into a first position, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which the end element 36 is positioned away distally from the body section 12, thereby extending the expandable section 30. The fill valve 10 is then fed into an aperture in a cistern surface 50 until the radially extending flange of the expandable member 30 sandwiched between the flange 24 of the body section 12 and the surface 50. At this point, the elongate member 40 is rotated, which, due to the respective threads of the elongate member 40 and the end element support 38, the end element 36 is moved axially along the elongate member 40 towards the body section 12. In moving towards the body section 12, the end element 36 axially compresses the expandable section 30, thus causing radial expansion of the expandable section 30. Due to the inner core 16 being located inwardly of the expandable member 30, when compressed axially, the expandable member 30 expands radially. The rotation of the elongate member 40 is continued until the compression of the expandable section 30 forms a seal between the expandable section 30 and the surface 50. Thus, the arrangement is moved to a second position in which the width of the compressed expandable section 30 is greater than that of the aperture in the surface 50, thereby securing the fill valve 10 in the surface 50. The external surface of the end element 36 is provided with an external thread in order to allow a water supply to be affixed onto the fill valve 10. In such an arrangement, the end of the inner core 16 that protrudes from the fill valve 10 can be received within the water inlet connection. An elastomeric seal is provided between the end element and the water supply to reduce the risk of water leaking from the connection. Thus, when connected to the water supply, water can pass into the elongate fill valve conduit 14 via the inner core 16 and the body section 12. Whilst water can flow directly through the water faucet connection arrangement, there may be a situation in which it is preferable that internal conduits, such as one or more tap tails, are provided for the flow of liquid into the fill valve. When installed, the tubular expandable section extends from inside the cistern, through an aperture in the surface of the cistern and onto the opposing side of the cistern wall. Thus, the tubular expandable section is in contact with both sides of the surface and is in compression from both sides by way of the body section and the end element. Therefore, a single seal member is provided that gives the fill valve a solid resistance to leaks. The cistern fill valve may comprise an adjustable valve shank to adjust the relative height of the valve within the cistern. Similarly, the float position may be adjusted to change the fill level within the cistern. It will be understood that whilst the present invention is described in relation to a toilet cistern fill valve, the fill valve may be used in other situations where fill valves are employed. The float valve mechanism may be removable to allow access to the head of the elongate member. Thus, once the fill conduit is installed, the valve mechanism can be placed onto the end of the fill conduit, thereby covering the elongate member. Unless otherwise prohibited, it will be appreciated that one or more features of one embodiment described herein may be incorporated into a different embodiment.

Claims

1. A cistern fill valve comprising:a body section;an elongate fill valve conduit connected to one side of the body section; anda connection mechanism, wherein the connection mechanism comprises an inner core section extending from the body section, the inner core section having an axial bore therethrough and an inner core support extending transversely across the bore, the inner core support having an aperture therein;the connection mechanism further comprises:an outer tubular elastomeric expandable member coaxial with the inner core section and external thereof, a first end of the expandable member being proximal the body section and a second end of the expandable member being distal the body section; andan end element adjacent the second end of the expandable member, the end element having an internal end element support, the end element support further comprising an aperture therein;wherein, an elongate member is provided, the elongate member having a head and a shaft, the shaft extending through the aperture of the inner core support and through the aperture of the end element support; andan actuation mechanism is provided that can draw the end element towards the body section to axially compress the expandable member, resulting in radial expansion of the expandable member.

2. A cistern fill valve according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member extends at least halfway up the fill valve conduit.

3. A cistern fill valve according to claim 2, wherein the fill valve conduit comprises a support to support the end of the elongate member distal from the connection mechanism.

4. A cistern fill valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the head of the elongate member is adapted to receive a tool or is adapted to fit onto a tool and the actuation mechanism comprises rotation of the elongate member.

5. A cistern fill valve according to claim 4, wherein the elongate member comprises external threads and rotation of the elongate member results in axial movement of the elongate member.

6. A cistern fill valve according to any one of claims, 1 to 3, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a cam and lever arrangement and wherein activation of the lever results in axial movement of the elongate member.

7. A cistern fill valve according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner core section extends beyond the end element and a connection mechanism is provided on or adjacent the end of the inner core to allow a water supply to be attached thereto.

8. A toilet cistern comprising a cistern fill valve according to any preceding claim.

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