Valve system for various modes
VALVESYSTEMFOR VARIOUSMODES TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a valve system for various modes such as a full flow, trickle flow, reverse flow and closed mode. BACKGROUND ARTUntil recently it was possible for a water supply body to close off a user in the event of non-payment of an account. However, this is rather a drastic step to have to take because it can cause serious problems for the user and can even constitute a matter of life or death. The present legislation in this country forbids the complete cutting off of a water supply and the idea of a trickle flow is essential to overcome the problem and to satisfy the legislation. It iso an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which permits a full flow or a trickle flow at the discretion of the water supplier. It is a further object of the invention to provide other modes for the valve system of the water user. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the invention a valve system for a water user includes a valve body with a rotatable member therein, the body having an inlet and outlet for water and the rotatable member having passageways which in one mode (or position of the rotatable member) provides a free flow of water through the valve and in a second mode introduces a restricted passage for water between the inlet and outlet, the degree of restriction being dependent on the required rate of flow for a trickle feed through the valve. The variable member may have @@@@@@@ at an angle to one another preferably at right angles one passageway being clear for a full flow of water therethrough when rotated to the first mode and the other having a restriction in the second mode for the trickle feed. Access to the member is confined to the water supplier who, after removing a cap portion is able to use an Allen key or the like to rotate the member to change from the first mode to the second mode. The restriction may be an orifice in a disc, the latter being complemental to the internal diameter of the passage and the orifice having a size which is dependent on the pressure of the water supply. Because of the variance in the pressure of water in a particular reticulation, discus with various sizes of orifices will be required and these may be colour or otherwise coded. To avoid the clogging of he orifice, a filter or sieve may be provided upstream of the disc. A completely closed or third made may be achieved by rotation of the member to a third position in which there is no communication between the inlet and outlet. A fourth mode may be achieved by rotation of the member to a position intermediate the first two modes to effect a flushing of the valve to remove any solids or other matter. A fifth mode may be achieved by another rotation to a position in which the flow of water is directed in back-washing mode of the filter referred to above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONAn embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 2 is a sectional side view through a valve unit according to the invention; andFigures 2 to 6 are cross sectional views through the rotatable member in five possible modes, each figure comprising a trilogy of a sketch indicating the section lines of the two cross sections of the particular Figure. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTIONIn Figure 1 a valve comprises a valve body 10 which has an inlet 12 and an outlet 14. The water flows in the direction of the arrow 16. The body includes a rotatable member 18 which has passageways indicated by reference 20. The valve body includes a lock ring 22 and a screw cap 24. Removal of the cap 24, which can only be done by an authorised person, gives access to a well 26 in the form of a hexagon to receive an Allen key so that the rotatable member may be rotated to one of the five modes to be described. The rotatable member has a latch 30 for retaining the member in a chosen rotational position, the latch being displaced from a socket 32 by downward pressure on the member before the Allen key is turned, whereafter the latch engages the next socket 34 due to its inherent elasticity. The passages are at right angles as shown in Figure 2 to 6 and rotation of the member 18 may be made to a number of possible positions, the five shown being those required for the five modes. Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates the full flow mode in which the passage 40 is in line with the inlet and outlet so that water flows directly through the valve. A restriction 42 is options and is used where the water pressure is too high or is variable, in which case restrictions comprising discs having various sizes of orifices are provided and these may be colour or otherwise coded for particular pressures. A restriction 44 is located in the passage 50 which is at right angles to the through passage 40. When it is required to convert the valve to a trickle mode-for example, if the user has failed to pay his account, the water authority rotates the member to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the passage 50 is in line with the inlet and outlet and the water must perforce pass through the restriction. As described above the restriction comprises a disc with an orifice and which is associated with a filter 52 to prevent clogging of the orifice of the disc. A third mode is shown in Figure 4 in which the member is rotated to a position as shown in which there is no communication between the inlet and the outlet. For the remaining two modes it is necessary to point out the short passages 60 and 62 on either side of the passage 40. In Figure 5 the passage 6o communicates with the inlet but the outlet is obturated, with the result that the water passes along the broken line 66 and through a drainage hole 68, thereby flushing out any detritus which may have collected in the passage. zuIn Figure 6 the passage 62 is in communication with the inlet and the outlet is again obturated with the result that the water is forced to flow in reverse direction through the restriction and filter to the other drainage hole 70, thereby creating a back washing action. Other than in the fourth and fifth modes, the drainage holes 68 and 70 play no part in the operation of the valve. A valve system is provided where the water supplier can change the mode of operation between a full free flow through the valve and a limited tricle flow,so that the user will no be left without any water should the supplier decide that the supplply of water to a person should be cut off; the valve comprising a casing with a rotatable member, the member having passageways at right angles, one passageway allowing full free flow through the valve and the other passageway including a restriction with an ^J orifice determined by the rate of trickle flow sought, and having a filter upstream thereof for prevention of clogging of the orifice; the valve also providing additional modes, one of which provides for a complete shut off of water, another providing a flush of the valve and another providing a back washing action for cleaning the filter. CLAIMS : 1. A valve system for a water user including a valve body with a rotatable member therein, the body having an inlet and an outlet for water and characterised in that the rotatable member has passageways providing a number of modes of flow and in which one mode (or position of the rotatable member) provides a free flow of water through the valve, and a second mode introducing a restricted passage for water between the inlet and the outlet, the degree of restriction being dependent on the required rate of flow for a trickle feed through the valve.
2. The valve system according to claim 1 characterised in that the rotatable member has passageways at an angle to one another, one passageway being clear for a full flow of water therethrough when rotated to its first mode; and the other having a restriction in a second position adapted to permit a trickle feed.
3. The valve system according to claim 2 characterised in that the restriction comprises a disc with an orifice, the size of the orifice being dependent on the pressure of the water supply.
4. The valve according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that a filter is provided upstream of the restriction.
5. The valve system according to any of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that a plurality of discs are provided with different orifice sizes corresponding to possible variations in pressure of the water supply. 6. The valve system according to any of the above claims characterised in that in a third mode, there is no communication between inlet and outlet.
7. The valve system according to any of the above claims in which a fourth mode corresponds with a position of the rotatable member to a position intermediate two modes to effect a flushing of the valve, a supplementary short passageway and a drainage hole being provided for such mode.
8. The valve system according to any of the above claims characterised in that a fifth mode corresponds with a back washing of the filter of either of claims 4 or 5.
9. A valve system according to any of the above claims characterised in that access to the rotatable member is confined to the water supplier or authorised person who, after removing a cap portion, is able to use a tool such as an Allen key to rotate the member to change from one mode to another.