IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FLUID FLOW CONTROL

Abstract: Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a flow control unit (100). The unit has a cup-shaped filter (101), non-return valve (102) with 0-ring seal (102') and optional flow limiter (103) shown in figure 3. Unit (100) is arranged to effectively replace components normally located in elbow pipes leading to a dual control assembly for a shower fitting. It is envisaged the unit (100) could be fitted into the inlet feed pipe at a remote location from the dual control assembly and elbow pipes, for example, in a loft.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FLUID FLOW CONTROL This invention relates to improvements in or relating ^ to fluid flow control and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with a shower fitting or other water outlet where hot and/or cold water is inlet to a control assembly (usually a dual control assembly) said inlet water normally passing through modifying means or restrictions such as a filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter before entering the main body of the control assembly. FIGURE 6 of our European Patent Specification No. EP0947902 shows a cross section through a dual control assembly,, for example for a shower fitting or other water outlet, where the temperature of water can be controlled by a thermostatic valve and the water flow by a flow rate valve. It is to be noted that the dual control assembly is provided with upper and lower elbow pipes which receive inlet flows of hot and cold water respectively. These elbow pipes are normally hidden from view in, for example, a cavity wall of a shower cubicle and are, thus, often generally inaccessible without causing damage to the shower wall of the cubicle or., for example, to tiling on the cubicle wall. It should be readily seen from said FIGURE 6 that each elbow pipe contains a filter, a non-return valve and a flow limiter in series through which the inlet water flows. Such an arrangement tends to be problematical in that the filter may become blocked or partially blocked and need cleaning or replacement and additionally or alternatively the non-return valve and/or flow limiter may develop a fault over time and need attention or replacement. It should readily be appreciated that if access is required to the filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter in either one of the elbow pipes, these components are not readily accessible and it may be highly disadvantageous necessitating firstly damage to the cubicle wall to access the elbow pipes and secondly dismantling of the elbow pipe/s from the control assembly to access the faulty component. There may be other fluid flow control scenarios where access to items such as filters, non-return valves, flow limiters, or other fluid modifying or restriction means is severely restricted. It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the aforementioned, or other, problem associated with fluid flow control. According, to the present invention there is provided fluid flow control apparatus comprising a control assembly, for example, for a shower or other water outlet, said apparatus including at least one flow control unit,.positionable in use remote from the control assembly in an accessible location, said flow control unit including inlet flow such as a filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fluid flow control apparatus includes a control assembly having, elbow pipes leading into the control assembly for respective hot and cold water inlets, said elbow pipes, preferably, being free of means restricting or modifying, the inlet flows of hot and cold water. Preferably, two flow control units are provided, each being for respective hot and cold water inlets and, preferably, each flow control unit is removable, in use., from its location in pipework, and preferably, an isolator valve is provided in the pipework which may be located at one end of the respective control unit. Also preferably, the isolator valve may be self-contained as a removable unit from the pipework and/or may be provided with a simple screw actuator to open and close the valve. Preferably, the or each flow control unit may be removed from the pipework by unscrewing_two securing, or locking nuts. Further according to the present invention there is provided a fluid flow control unit for use with a fluid flow control assembly,, said fluid flow control unit comprising inlet flow restricting or modifying means such as a filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter and being adapted by means,. e.g.having two securing nuts, for removably, or detachably fitting said inlet flow restricting or modifying means of the control unit into a length of (rigid) pipework. The flow restricting or modifying means preferably comprises separate components which are axially aligned (preferably adjacent one another for compactness) and preferably detachably mounted in a (straight) sleeve. Preferably,, the control unit comprises an isolating valve which may also be removably fitted into a length of pipework with said inlet flow or modifying means being removable from the isolating ^ valve. In one embodiment of the fluid flow control unit, the inlet flow restricting or modifying means is contained in a sleeve that can be removably fitted to one end of the isolating valve, preferably ., by a screw-thread connection and removably . fitted at the other end, preferably, by a screw-thread connection to a threaded insert member attached to pipework. The sleeve may. be provided with an integral collar cooperable with a securing nut at one end and fitted with an end piece cooperating with a second securing nut at the other end. Preferably % the collar and the end piece have flat faces engaging with flat faces on the isolating valve and on the insert respectively, or preferably, an associated washer is located in between the adjacent flat faces of the collar and isolating yalve and end piece and insert respectively. Many advantageous features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings. An embodiment of fluid flow control apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying simplified schematic drawings in which: - FIGURE 1 shows a sectional view through a dual control assembly in the form of a shower fitting, of a known type; FIGURE 2 shows an exploded view of the various components of a flow control unit (without optional flow limiter) in accordance with the present invention, and FIGURES 3 and 4 show sectional views of the assembled flow control unit of FIGURE 2 >ut an isolating yalve), with optional flow limiter being shown in FIGURE 3 only. Referring firstly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a known dual control assembly C for a shower fitting includes upper and lower elbow inlet pipes 1 and 2. Upper inlet pipe 1 is for the inlet of cold water C and lower inlet pipe is for inlet of hot water H to the main body 3 of the shower fitting (although hot and cold inlets could be reversed if required). When the shower fitting is installed, elbow pipes 1 and 2 are normally hidden from view, for example in a cavity wall and access may only be gained to the elbow pipes 1 and 2 by damaging the shower cubicle wall partition (defining one side of the cavity wall) represented by a dashed line W. Each elbow pipe contains a filter 4, a non- return valve 5 and a flow limiter 6 in series to restrict or modify the inlet flow of hot and cold water into the main body 3 of the control assembly C in a manner which should be self-explanatory, more particularly when referring to our European Patent Specification No. EP0947902. The flow limiter 6 is an optional component usually only required for pressures above 1.5 bar. Thus, .a problem can arise if a fault occurs in the filter 4 and/or non return valve 5 and/or flow limiter 6 in either of the elbow pipes 1 and 2 because these components cannot be easily accessed; even if the elbow pipes 1 ^ 2 are not contained in the cavity, wall behind partition W there may still be some measure of difficulty in accessing the interior of the elbow pipes owing, to the nature of the compression fittings employed and the fact that a fair degree of difficulty in dismantling would arise, since the pipework would have to be moved or sprung apart to allow access to the interior of the elbow pipes. In use of the present invention, it is envisaged that there should be no necessity for the inclusion of any flow restricting or modifying means in either of the elbow pipes shown in FIGURE 1 such that the filter, non-return valve 5 and flow limiter 6 can be omitted from the arrangement completely and ideally located in two flow control units in respective separate hot and cold water inlet pipes remote from the control assembly itself, or at least positionable in a more accessible location. FIGURE 2 shows such a flow control unit 100 in an exploded form. Each unit 100 es a cup-shaped, filter 101, a non-return valve 102 with O-ring seal 102 1 and optional flow limiter 103 (shown displaced from the expanded components in FIGURE 2 for ease of illustration but shown positioned assembled in the flow control unit in FIGURE 3). Thus, unit 100 effectively replaces the components in one of the elbow pipes 1, 2 (flow limiter 103 is optional), and it is envisaged that this unit could be fitted in the inlet feed pipe line at a remote location from the dual control assembly and elbow pipes 1, 2 shown in FIGURE 1, . for example, in a loft or in an under floor duct or the like. Thus,, one control unit 100 would be required in each one of the hot and cold inlet pipes to the dual control assembly C. Additionally and advantageously ^ the control unit 100 also includes a self-contained isolating valve assembly 104 (not shown in FIGURES 3 and 4) with an easy operable screw head actuator 104a that can be screwed in or out to open and close the isolating valve (generally of a known type). The flow control unit LQQ will now be further described with additional reference to FIGURES 3 and 4. The filter 101 λ non-return valve 102 and optional flow limiter 103 are contained within a removable metal sleeve 105 having an integral collar 105 a at one end of slightly wider diameter portion than the main body 105b of the sleeve x the internal annular face 105" a of collar 105a acting as a stop for, and overlapping, the radial extent of end wall 106a of securing or locking nut 106. Sleeve 105 is also provided with opposing flats 105c for use with a tool such as a spanner or the like for tightening the fitment (only one flat 105c shown in FIGURE 2 for ease of illustration). A nylon spacer bush 107 is positioned in the sleeve 105 after the non-return valve 102 where the flow limiter 103 is omitted from the assembled flow control unit 100 (see FIGURE 4). Where the flow limiter 103 is to be included, bush 107 is omitted and replaced by flow limiter 103 and nylon spacer bush 107' (of lesser axial extent than bush 107) as shown more particularly in FIGURE 3. The cup shaped filter 101, non-return valve 102 and optional flow limiter 103 and bush or alternatively bush 107) are secured in place in series in axial alignment with one ;r by means of brass,, threaded end piece 108 fitted with a rubber O-ring seal 109 as shown. End piece 108 is provided with an end collar 108a of wider diameter than in the main body 108b of said end piece. Said collar 108 overlaps the radial extent of wall 110a of securing nut 110, the inner annular face 108' a of the collar 108a acting as stop for the securing nut 110 in a similar manner to the way the face 105' a acts as stop for securing nut 106. In order to secure the sleeve 105 and internal components 101, 102, 107, as in FIGURE 4 (or alternatively 101, 102, 103, 107' as in FIGURE 3) in a length of pipework in a removable manner, sleeve 105 can be secured in water tight manner to the externally threaded end 104b of the isolating valve by the internal screw thread provided on the securing nut 106 with flat fibre washer 111 being secured tightly in between the outer flat end wall face 105 "a of the collar 105 and flat wall 104c of the isolating valve 104 as more particularly shown FIGURES 3 and 4. The other end of the sleeve 105 is secured to stepped externally threaded insert 112 by means of the internal thread on the securing nut 110 engaging the external thread 112a on the right hand end of the insert 112 more particularly as shown in FIGURE 2 X in a similar manner to the engagement of securing nut 106 onto the external threaded end 104b of the isolating valve 104. Fibre washer 115 is secured between the flat outer end face 108" a of collar 108a and flat face 112d of the stepped insert 112 as should be evident from FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. Insert 112 is also provided with two opposing flats 112b for use with a tool such as a spanner or the like for tightening the fitment (only one of which flats 112b is shown in FIGURE 2 for ease of illustration). The left hand threaded end 112c of insert 112 engages the internal thread on the nut 113 located at the far left of FIGURE 2 said nut 113 is arranged in use to fit directly onto pipework P (see FIGURES 3 and 4) leading to the inlet of the dual control assembly shown in FIGURE 6 and olive 114 forms part of the compression joint connecting the insert 112 into the pipework. A similar olive (not shown) is located at the right hand end of the isolator valve 104. From the aforedescribed arrangement., it should be evident that once the screw 104a has been rotated to close off the isolating valve 104, sleeve 105 and the filter 101, non- return valve 102 and optional flow limiter 103 components can be removed as a unit, simply by undoing securing nuts 106 and 110 (which nuts can be removed from the pipework and from the isolator valve 104 and from the stepped insert 112 with end piece 108 in a manner should be evident). Washers 111 and 115 could also be removed along with said Advantageously, said components can be removed from the piping without the ends of the pipework needing to be sprung apart owing to the flat face contact (albeit with fibre washers 111,. 115 inbetween) of the collars 105a and 108a with the external faces 104c, 112d of the isolating valve 104 and stepped insert 112. Thus, this allows the filter 101, non return valve 102 and flow limiter 103 to be removed as a Unit from the pipework simply and quickly, the flow of water being conveniently cut off to said components by the isolating valve 104 in a manner which should be evident. Still further according to the present invention there is provided a flow control unit having one or more of the following: - a) means of introducing the unit into and out of rigid pipework, preferably by securing nuts located at end of a sleeve, the sleeve having flat end faces engaging flat end faces on pipework components (albeit possibly with a washer there between) that remain attached thereto when unit is removed, b) fluid restricting or modifying means, preferably, including a filter and/or non return valve and preferably including means for an optional flow limiter, c) two securing means, one at either end of a sleeve, preferably being securing or locking nuts, d) an isolating valve detachable from a sleeve of the flow control unit containing fluid restricting or modifying means, and preferably detachable from pipework. Further according to the present invention there is provided a flow control unit for use with a fluid flow control assembly and having fluid flow restricting or modifying means, said flow control unit being adapted for remote and/or accessible connection (in situ) relative to a main body of the control assembly. irther according to the present invention there is provided a dual control assembly as rlaimed in anv OΠPI rvF r>.1niτn« 1 tn 10 in F.P 0Q47QΩ9. havinσ filhnw inp.ti mp: nf fluid restricting or modifying means such as a filter, non-return valve or flow limiter, or having empty (apart from fluid) elbow pipes. Further according to the present invention there is provided fluid flow control apparatus including a dual control assembly as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph and having at least one fluid flow control unit including .fluid flow restricting or modifying means remote from the elbow pipes. Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of modifying or restricting fluid flow to a fluid flow control assembly, said method comprising modifying or restricting fluid flow to one or more inlets to said control assembly from a remote or readily accessible location. It is to be appreciated that the present invention offers many improvements, at least some of which might be patentable individually or in combination. Any individual feature as aforementioned or as shown or implicit herein or combinations thereof, or functions or methods appertaining thereto, may be patentably inventive and any specific term as used herein should not be construed as unnecessarily or unduly limiting the scope of such a term should extend to, or may be replaced or supplemented by, any equivalent or generic expression. Additionally, any range mentioned herein for any variable or parameter shall be taken to include a disclosure of any derivable sub-range within that range or of any particular value of the variable or parameter arranged within, or at an end of, the range or sub-range, ,

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Fluid flow control apparatus comprising a control assembly, for example for a shower or other water outlet, said apparatus including at least one flow control unit, positionable in use remote from the control assembly in an accessible location^ said flow control unit including inlet flow restricting or modifying means such as a filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter. 2. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 including a control assembly having .elbow pipes leading into the control assembly for respective hot and cold water inlets. 3. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which said elbow pipes are free of means restricting or modifying the inlet flows of hot and cold water. 4. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which two flow control units are provided, each being for respective hot and cold water inlets. 5. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 in which each flow control unit is removable, in use, from its location in pipework. 6. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 in which an isolator valve is provided in the pipework. 7. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 in which the isolator valve is located at one end of the respective control unit. 8. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 in which the isolator valve is self-contained as a removable unit from the pipework. . Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8 in which the isolator valve is provided with a simple screw actuator to open and close the valve. 10. Fluid flow control apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each flow control unit can be removed from the pipework by unscrewing two securing or locking nuts. 11. Fluid flow control apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to FIGURES 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. 12. A fluid flow control unit for use with a fluid flow control assembly, said fluid flow control unit comprising inlet flow restricting or modifying means such as a filter and/or non-return valve and/or flow limiter and being adapted by means, e.g. haying two securing nuts, for removably or detachably fitting said inlet flow restricting or modifying means of the control unit into a length of (rigid) pipework 13. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 12 in which the flow restricting or modifying means comprises separate components which are axially aligned. 14. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 13 in which the separate components are axially aligned adjacent one another and preferably detachably mounted in a (straight) sleeve. 15. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14 in which the control unit comprises an isolating valve which can be removably fitted into a length of pipework with said inlet flow or modifying means being removable from the isolating valve. 16. - A fluid flow αontroiunit as, daimed in. Claim .15 in which, the inlet flow, sstricting or modifying means is contained in a sleeve that can be removably itted to one end of the isolating yalve. 17. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 16 in which said removable fitting is by a screw-thread connection. 18. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 16 or Claim 17 in which the sjeeve is removably fitted at the other end to a threaded insert member attached to pipework. 19. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 18 in which the removable fitting of the sleeve to the insert member is by a screw thread connection attached to pipework. 20. A fluid flow control unit as claimed iri any one of Claims 15 to 18 in which the sleeve is provided with an integral collar co-operable with a securing nut at one end and fitted with an end piece co-operating with a second securing nut at the other end. 21. A fluid flow control unit as claimed in Claim 20 in which the collar and the end piece have flat faces engaging with flat faces on the isolating valve and on the insert respectively. 22. Afluidflαw.cjonfrolui-ita& cMmed.m in, which an. associated washer is located in between adjacent flat faces of the collar and isolating valve and end piece and insert respectively. 2 AfluicLflαw eααtrcjlunit as herein described with, reference, to. ELGURES.2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. 24. A fluid flow control unit having one or more of the following: - a) . means of introducing the unit into and out of rigid pipework ^ preferably by securing nuts located at end of a sleeve, the sleeve having flat end faces engaging flat end faces on pipework components (albeit possibly with a washer there between) that remain attached thereto when unit is removed, b) . fluid restricting or modifying means, preferably, including a filter and/or non return valve and preferably including means for an optional flow limiter, c) two securing means, one at either end of a sleeve, preferably being securing or locking nuts, d) . an isolating valve detachable from a sleeve of the flow control unit containing ϊuid restricting or modifying means, and preferably detachable from pipework. 25. A flow control unit for use with a fluid flow control assembly and having fluid flow restricting or modifying means, said flow control unit being adapted for remote and/or accessible connection (in situ) relative to a main body of the control assembly. . 26. A dual control assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 in EP 0947902 having elbow pipes free of fluid restricting or modifying means such as a filter, non-return valve or flow limiter, or having empty (apart from fluid) elbow pipes. 27. Fluid flow control apparatus including a dual control assembly as claimed in Claim 26 and having at least one fluid flow control unit including fluid flow restricting or modifying means remote from the elbow pipes. 28. A method of modifying or restricting fluid flow to a fluid flow control assembly, said method comprising modifying or restricting fluid flow to one or more inlets to said control assembly from a remote or readily accessible location. 29. A method as claimed in Claim 28 and substantially as herein described.

Inventors: PROCTOR FRANK, PROCTOR, FRANK
Applicants: BRISTAN LTD, PROCTOR FRANK, BRISTAN LIMITED, PROCTOR, FRANK
Application year: 2001
Main classification: G05D7
IPC codes: G05D7, G05D23